Clinical characteristics of poly-drug abuse among heroin dependents and association with other psychopathology in compulsory isolation treatment settings in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical characteristics and associations of polydrug abuse among heroin-dependent patients in compulsory isolation settings in China. METHODS: Structured interviews were conducted in 882 heroin-dependent patients in two compulsory isolation settings in Changsha, China. Descriptive statistics were employed to report prevalence and general information of polydrug abuse among the participants. Bivariate associations were examined between polydrug abuse and variables regarding demographics, heroin use profile and psychopathology. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to determine independent factors associated with polydrug abuse. RESULTS: Of all the participants, 40.6% reported abuse of/dependence on at least one other type of drug/alcohol than heroin/opioids during the month preceding admission, with benzodiazepines and alcohol being the most common type of drugs abused apart from heroin. Antisocial and depressive personality disorders, as well as more severe heroin use patterns, including younger age at initiate use and larger amount used per day, were found to be independently associated with polydrug abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of polydrug abuse and its associated severe heroin use patterns and personality disorders suggests an urgent need of promoting treatment policies and strategies for heroin patients in China to address these issues.

Effect of modified Yupingfeng granule on nuclear factor-kappaB expression in mice with allergic contact dermatitis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of modified Yupingfeng granule on nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)expression in mice with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mouse models of ACD were treated with the granules at low, medium and high doses, with normal saline and hydrocortisone as the negative and positive controls, respectively. The expressions of NF-kappaB and its distribution in the lesions were detected using immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The staining intensity, area and positive expression rates of NF-kappaB p50 were significantly different between the treatment group and the normal saline group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Modified Yupingfeng granule can effectively inhibit the expression of NF-kappaB in ACD, which might be a possible mechanism for its therapeutic effect on ACD.</p>